From Territory to Early Statehood

Let's start at the beginning. No, not THAT beginning. Ah...much better. The land that would become Indiana. The population of this land was diverse...indigenous peoples...European Americans...and African Americans.

Adding to the challenge of peaceful co-existence was the conflict between Native and European Americans over land. In addition, the Europeans themselves had conflicting views about such issues as religion, slavery, and the role and purpose of government.

How did these diverse groups of people go about resolving these conflicts? How was this new state to be governed?

Primary Sources

Indiana's GeologyDavid Dale Owen Survey MapSource: Geological Society of London, Lyell CollectionCompelling Question: Who owns the resources that are under the land we live on and who decides how they should be used?

Indian Land GrantsRichardville’s Ft Wayne landSource: Indiana Archives and Records Administration Compelling Question: How can we integrate the concepts of land stewardship and land ownership?

Water PowerSpring Mill State ParkSource: Indiana Geological and Water SurveyCompelling Question: As water resources become more scarce, how do we balance the rights of individuals “upstream” with the rights of those “downstream?”

Early EducationCaleb Mills (1854)Source: Hoosier State Chronicles: Evansville Daily Journal, June 16, 1856 Compelling Question: Should all public education be free, and if so, who should bear the cost?

Racial DisparityIndiana’s Black RegistrySource: Nelson Perry Collection, Indiana State Library Compelling Question: How do we resolve conflict when restrictions on migration are based on race?